Category: Engineering

Why The State of California Should Prioritize the Rebuilding of Altadena

Why The State of California Should Prioritize the Rebuilding of Altadena

Why The State of California Should Prioritize the Rebuilding of Altadena

01/12/25

“Why should the State of California prioritize the rebuilding of Altadena?”

The wildfires sweeping Los Angeles have decimated humungous swaths of the metropolitan area. Altadena, a town in the San Gabriel Valley region, is one of the most affected places. Altadena is a diverse, dynamic community that’s long served as a cornerstone of the region’s Black American population. Altadena was one of the few places in Los Angeles County where Black Americans could receive a home mortgage during the redlining era, allowing it to hold a multigenerational Black American community. On January 7th, 2025 around 6:30 pm Pacific time, the Eaton fire started in Altadena, and spread over the city. Over 7,000 structures have been destroyed and the entirety of the town was evacuated. Given Altadena’s significance as a home for these communities fleeing racist state abuse, California should be obligated to rebuild Altadena. This is Why The State of California Should Prioritize the Rebuilding of Altadena.

If you need help or would like to provide help Black Altadena/Pasadena families hurt because of the LA fires, please check out the Displaced Black Families Altadena & Pasadena Mutual Aid Directory for resources

Image credit: Nextdoor

Pod Mapping for Disaster Mutual Aid

Pod Mapping for Disaster Mutual Aid

Pod Mapping for Disaster Mutual Aid

01/08/25

“How can we visualize who we can rely on for mutual aid?”

When disaster strikes, whether it’s wildfires in Los Angeles or genocidal invasions in Gaza/Ukraine, people will need mutual aid. However, organizing whom you can rely on can be quite daunting. This is where Pod Mapping for Disaster Mutual Aid comes in. Pod mapping starts with drawing a circle representing yourself. Around this circle will be more circles representing people you trust you can rely on for essential services. You will then communicate with these people what services you can provide and how you will all work together. From here, you will make plans and draw out more potential contacts and larger mutual aid groups you can rely on. 

For more information regarding pod mapping, you can visit Rebel Sidney Black’s guide here.

Image credit: blogger.googleusercontent.com

Disinfection By-Products

Disinfection By-Products

Disinfection By-Products

01/02/25

“What by-products can be created after chemical water treatment?”

Water disinfection is a foundational part of water treatment. Oftentimes chemicals are used for cleaning. This can lead to chemical reactions that produce Disinfection By-Products. Disinfection by-products are present in drinking water supplies all over the world.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Uninterruptible Power Supply

01/01/25

“How can we provide uninterruptible power supplies to critical loads?”

Critical loads such as servers or medical systems need a continuous supply of power. Outages are incredibly dangerous because even leaving these machines off while the power source is switched can cause mass damage. So what if we were to attach multiple sources of power that can instantly switch on when one goes out. Well, this is the idea behind Uninterruptible Power Supply. The power backup usually only lasts a short time for the main electricity provider to return to operations.

What Living Quarters Were Like on Sailing Ships

What Living Quarters Were Like on Sailing Ships

What Living Quarters Were Like on Sailing Ships

12/31/24

“What were living quarters like on 17th-century ships?”

It’s common for people to go on cruises for vacations, expecting luxury at sea. But in the age of the sail, ship living was anything but easy. People in lower ranks of authority would live in dense, unsanitary cabins, sleeping in hammocks. Vermin infestations were common, stitches were strong, and the diet monotonous (consisting mainly of salted meat and hard sea biscuits). Nevertheless, this was What Living Quarters Were Like on Sailing Ships.

Appropriate Technology

Appropriate Technology

Appropriate Technology

12/26/24

“How do we create technology that’s appropriate for a local society and environment?”

When people talk about modern technology, many picture items using the latest advances in electronics and sensors. However, that may not be appropriate for communities that live in remote areas or don’t have access to consistent electricity or high-tech supply chains. People may need access to Appropriate Technologies built with the local community and environment in mind. An example of appropriate technology is a machine that washes clothes without electricity using locally repairable parts for off-grid, remote communities.

Image credit: https://lifewater.org/

Drawbacks of Building With Wood

Drawbacks of Building With Wood

Drawbacks of Building With Wood

12/22/24

“What are the drawbacks of building with wood?”

Wood is a versatile material to use in buildings. However, it comes with drawbacks. Wood is highly flammable, vulnerable to moisture damage and insect infestation, changes volume fairly significantly depending on the temperature, and can crack and internally destabilize. These are the Drawbacks of Building With Wood.

Benefits of Building With Wood

Benefits of Building With Wood

Benefits of Building With Wood

12/21/24

“What are the benefits of building a structure with wood?”

Wood is a versatile material. It’s lightweight, can support its own weight well, is a natural insulator to electricity and heat, can absorb sound well, and is generally east to work with. These properties make wood a top choice for use in buildings. These are the Benefits of Building With Wood.

Heat Pump Dryers

Heat Pump Dryers

Heat Pump Dryers

12/19/24

“How can we use a heat pump to dry clothes?”

Heat pumps can transfer heat from one medium to a building space. People can also apply this technology to their laundry using Heat Pump Dryers. Heat pump dryers carry the moisture away from clothes into a tank and then absorbs the heat from said moisture to heat air to repeat the process. Heat pump dryers are incredibly popular in Europe, where they make up as much as 40% of market sales.

Image credit https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/